The most helpful favourable review

The most helpful critical review

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 starsA must read for blues enthusiasts
A really superb book if you want to anything about blues and where it originated. Ted Gioia has pulled together a vast amount of research information, from various sources, to produce a book that flows and follows the blues from their origins up to today. The cameo chapters on the all time greats (Charley Patton, Tommy Johnson, Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, John Lee...

A really superb book if you want to anything about blues and where it originated. Ted Gioia has pulled together a vast amount of research information, from various sources, to produce a book that flows and follows the blues from their origins up to today. The cameo chapters on the all time greats (Charley Patton, Tommy Johnson, Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Howlin' Wolf, B.B. King, Mississippi John Hurt) in themselves are enlightening as to the characters. However, what Gioia has cleverly achieved in the book is to bring in peripheral and important information on numerous others involved with development of the blues (artists, agents, record producers, etc). A vast number of the peripheral artists did not have the media exposure of the greats but, according to Gioia, they are equally as important to what we know as blues music today. A great read and one I thoroughly recommend.

Having searched for the word combination "Delta Blues" on Amazon, is proof that youare searching for the roots of the blues genre. And this is a real hit !

This book not only presents you with the names and places.Facts, anecdotes, and in depth analysis of the society back then, gives you a real feelingfor the atmosphere in which this music was created. And feeling is what the blues is all about.

A book like this always stands the risk of being somewhat "dry reading", but Ted Gioia's narrativestyle makes this book a pleasure to read. Each chapter of the book is centered on a knownperformer, and can therefore be read on a "stand alone" basis.

This review is from: Delta Blues: The Life and Times of the Mississippi Masters Who Revolutionized American Music (Kindle Edition)

A really absorbing entertaining and informative tome.The authors expert research and knowledge shines through. Like all great music books encourages you to seek out the original music and what a joy that is.Haven't enjoyed a music book as much since ian clayton bringing it all back home.